The great thing about Guinness World Records is that there’s always something to dethrone, achieve or complete yourself, allowing you to accomplish something uniquely yours.
There is no barrier to entry when it comes to taking on a task, mission or challenge, and these two best friends from Tampa, Florida, are attempting to set a new world record.
Meet Cassie Aran and Lauren Lee, a duo looking to trek 750 miles across the eastern US, each driving a toy car. Even better, they’re hoping to raise money to support people experiencing mental health problems.
At the time of writing, the pair have already started their engines and set off on their journey. Their route began at Independence Mall in Philadelphia, with Niagara Falls as their final destination, taking them across three states with the expectation of finishing at the end of November.
A Charitable Motive
The motive behind the trip started when Aran witnessed someone attempting to take their life at Niagara Falls earlier this year, which was ultimately why they decided to choose this as their final location.
The pair have decided to raise funds for the charity To Write Love On Her Arms, a non-profit that provides help to those struggling with mental health, thoughts of self-harm or suicide and addiction.
Donations can be made here, and so far both have exceeded their $5,000 target, with over $8,140 raised so soon into their journey.
“Every mile we cover, every dollar you give, and every time you share this page is a way of telling someone that this is not the end of their story,” their post said.
“If you’re having a hard time right now, please reach out. You can call or text 988, or text TWLOHA to 741741, any time, for free.”
Full Backing From Freddo
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The cars they are using are the Freddo Rocket 2-Seater Kids’ Ride-On, a model capable of reaching speeds of up to 11 miles per hour. Each one features two 24-volt batteries, a 600-watt brushless motor, rubber tubeless air tyres, suspension and LED lights.
Despite being designed for children, these miniature vehicles will need to cover hundreds of miles, making reliability and battery management particularly important throughout their journey.
The good news is that Freddo Toys has provided its full backing. Not only has the company covered the record attempt fee, but it is also providing support by supplying spare parts and mechanics who are available on call should anything break down along the way.
To qualify for a Guinness World Record, Cassie and Lauren must provide evidence of their entire journey. Their cars carry multiple trackers monitoring speed, distance and location, while witnesses must sign their logbook whenever they stop and restart.
They also need to document each day through detailed written records and a 10-minute video. With no support vehicle carrying supplies, everything they need must fit inside their tiny cars.
Not the First Adventure
This wasn’t their first rodeo, though, having previously attempted a Guinness World Record in 2024 from Friendship Fountain in Jacksonville to the southernmost tip of the continental U.S. in Key West.
However, the attempt didn’t make it into Guinness’ book. Aran said it was due to a dispute over a fee Guinness wanted for the record attempt, since the drivers were fundraising towards Best Friends Animal Society.
“Basically, we had a choice at that point, which was to either go for the record or to keep saving animals. We couldn’t have both,” she said to BillyPenn. “So, we decided to keep saving animals and to drop the record.”
You can follow their progress on their Instagram pages.